In this paper, we propose an end-to-end Korean singing voice synthesis system from lyrics and a symbolic melody using the following three novel approaches: 1) phonetic enhancement masking, 2) local conditioning of text and pitch to the superresolution network, and 3) conditional adversarial training. The proposed system consists of two main modules; a mel-synthesis network that generates a mel-spectrogram from the given input information, and a super-resolution network that upsamples the generated mel-spectrogram into a linear-spectrogram. In the mel-synthesis network, phonetic enhancement masking is applied to generate implicit formant masks solely from the input text, which enables a more accurate phonetic control of singing voice. In addition, we show that two other proposed methods -local conditioning of text and pitch, and conditional adversarial training -are crucial for a realistic generation of the human singing voice in the super-resolution process. Finally, both quantitative and qualitative evaluations are conducted, confirming the validity of all proposed methods.

Demand on optical or photonic applications in the visible or short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) spectra, such as vision, virtual or augmented displays, imaging, spectroscopy, remote sensing (LIDAR), chemical reaction sensing, microscopy, and photonic integrated circuits, has envisaged new type of subwavelength-featured materials and devices for controlling electromagnetic waves. The study on metasurfaces, of which the thickness is either comparable to or smaller than the wavelength of the considered incoming electromagnetic wave, has been grown rapidly to embrace the needs of developing sub 100-micron active photonic pixelated devices and their arrayed form. Meta-atoms in metasurfaces are now actively controlled under external stimuli to lead to a large phase shift upon the incident light, which has provided a huge potential for arrayed two-dimensional active optics. This short review summarizes actively tunable or reconfigurable metasurfaces for the visible or SWIR spectra, to account for the physical operating principles and the current issues to overcome.

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Rationale:Neuroinflammation is a primary feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD), for which an increasing number of drugs have been specifically developed. The present study aimed to define the therapeutic impact of a specific subpopulation of T cells that can suppress excessive inflammation in various immune and inflammatory disorders, namely, CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + regulatory T cells (Tregs). Methods: To generate Aβ antigen-specific Tregs (Aβ + Tregs), Aβ 1-42 peptide was applied in vivo and subsequent in vitro splenocyte culture. After isolating Tregs by magnetic bead based purification method, Aβ + Tregs were adoptively transferred into 3xTg-AD mice via tail vein injection. Therapeutic efficacy was confirmed with behavior test, Western blot, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and immunohistochemistry staining (IHC). In vitro suppression assay was performed to evaluate the suppressive activity of Aβ + Tregs using flow cytometry. Thy1.1 + Treg trafficking and distribution was analyzed to explore the infused Tregs migration into specific organs in an antigen-driven manner in AD mice. We further assessed cerebral glucose metabolism using 18 F-FDG-PET, an imaging approach for AD biological definition. Subsequently, we evaluated the migration of Aβ + Tregs toward Aβ activated microglia using live cell imaging, chemotaxis, antibody blocking and migration assay. Results: We showed that Aβ-stimulated Tregs inhibited microglial proinflammatory activity and modulated the microglial phenotype via bystander suppression. Single adoptive transfer of Aβ + Tregs was enough to induce amelioration of cognitive impairments, Aβ accumulation, hyper-phosphorylation of tau, and neuroinflammation during AD pathology. Moreover, Aβ-specific Tregs effectively inhibited inflammation in primary microglia induced by Aβ exposure. It may indicate bystander suppression in which Aβ-specific Tregs promote immune tolerance by secreting cytokines to modulate immune responses during neurodegeneration. Conclusions: The administration of Aβ antigen-specific regulatory T cells may represent a new cellular therapeutic strategy for AD that acts by modulating the inflammatory status in AD.

The vertical profiles of PO4(3-), Mn, Fe, S(2-), Hg, and CH3Hg(+) in sediment pore water were investigated using DGT and DET probes in the Tien River, the northern branch of Vietnam's Mekong Delta. Although some of the DGT measurements could be lower than the actual pore water concentrations due to the depletion of the species, the measurements provided information for understanding redox zonation and Hg methylation. The gradual increases in the measured species concentrations with the sediment depth were observed and the diffusive fluxes of the species to overlying water were expected. The vertical profiles suggested that (1) SO4(2-) seemed to be reduced before Fe(3+), or the two electron acceptors were reduced simultaneously; (2) the release of PO4(3-) was more closely related to S(2-) than Fe release; and (3) Hg methylation was active in the micro-niche between the aerobic and anaerobic transition zones. The maximum pore water CH3Hg(+) concentrations were observed at depths just above where the maximum S(2-) concentrations were detected. Hence, the maximum CH3Hg(+) concentration was observed near surficial sediments (less than 1 cm from the surface) in brackish water, and at a depth of 3 cm in fresh water. The different vertical profiles led to a CH3Hg(+) diffusive flux eight-times greater in brackish than in fresh water. The present study showed that the in situ application of DGT and DET probes was helpful to understand coupled biogeochemical reactions and mercury methylation by measuring pore water redox species.